Latest news with #DannyCare
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
I could see Farrell on bench this Test series
The British and Irish Lions selecting Owen Farrell on the bench for the Test series against Australia, which starts on Saturday in Brisbane, is something former England scrum-half Danny Care could see 33, played the final 30 minutes of the Lions' comfortable 48-0 win over the AUNZ Invitational XV on Saturday to mark his first appearance on in his first game since 4 May, the former England captain showed some nice touches and proved his fitness before the Test series."Quietly I thought Owen Farrell came on and just did Owen Farrell things," Care told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly."He was a calming presence and his passing game is up there with the best in the world."Smart kicks in behind and you could hear his energy with his voice, you could hear it through the TV screen."It would be a big shout to have Farrell in the Test 23."Care still feels Marcus Smith's ability to play fly-half and full-back edges him ahead for a first-Test bench spot over Farrell. "I don't see it happening in the first Test but I can see him getting into the Test squad," Care, a long-time half-back partner of Farrell for England, said."He covers many positions - 10 and 12 - he would be a great person to have on that bench with some back three cover and a scrum-half."I could see it happening." Lions head coach Andy Farrell opted against selecting his son in the initial squad but called him up when utility back Elliot Daly left the tour through not covering Daly's outside back positions Farrell, who plays at fly-half and inside centre, was brought into the squad despite struggling for form and fitness last season at Racing Farrell not having played international rugby in nearly two years, Marcus Smith or Fin Smith could still earn a first-Test bench spot ahead of him, with Finn Russell in pole position to wear the number 10 Lions then play against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on 22 July, before the second Test in Melbourne on 26 England wing Chris Ashton believes that final midweek game could propel Farrell into Test contention."He will start at fly-half or inside centre [against First Nations and Pasifika XV] as the lads would be involved in the first Test," Ashton added."That is the real chance for Owen to show himself properly. That 30 minutes on Saturday against poor opposition wasn't enough."He looked really relieved to be out there and happy as he would have been dying just to be on the pitch and put behind him all press and noise out of the way."He had a couple of nice touches. He'll be happy to keep everything moving along."Listen to the latest episode of Rugby Union Weekly.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pollock out as British and Irish Lions face Waratahs in Sydney
Update: Date: 10:15 BST Title: 'Why would you not pick Owen Farrell?' Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) Danny CareFormer England scrum-half on BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast Why would you not pick Owen Farrell? Whatever position he is going to play, whatever role he's going to play in that squad, they are only a better squad for having him there. Care has seen first hand how Farrell sets standards both on and off the pitch. If Owen turns up and delivers standards and delivers a better performance from the Lions, and overall and you see a more connected team, then you have to go 'what a masterclass and a masterstroke from the coaches'. Whatever team Owen is in he makes them better. I have no doubt in whatever shape he is, he will slot in absolutely fine. I hope he hits the ground running, and everyone just gets on with it. Update: Date: 10:12 BST Title: Faz linking up with Faz Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) Before we get into previewing the game, a huge Lions story broke on Thursday. No, it was not the announcement I am backing up my Wednesday live text against Queensland Reds. Owen Farrell has been called up by his father and Lions head coach Andy to replace Elliot Daly, who was ruled out of the tour after fracturing his arm against the Reds. Farrell's inclusion comes after a difficult season at Racing 92, where he struggled for form and fitness. With no international rugby in nearly two years, will the returning Saracens fly-half thrive in Australia? Update: Date: 10:09 BST Title: Post Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) Not risking Henry Pollock because he is in Andy Farrell's Test 23? Hard to say due to the quality in the back row. They know what the 20-year-old can do at this stage. Update: Date: 10:07 BST Title: Pollock withdrawal 'nothing too serious' - Farrell Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) British and Irish Lions Lions head coach Andy Farrell, speaking to Sky Sports: "Yes, he's got a slight problem with his calf - nothing too serious. "Knowing what we know, we thought it wasn't right to risk him so we reshuffle." Update: Date: 10:05 BST Title: Referee Paul Williams Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) New Zealand's Paul Williams is in charge for this one. Update: Date: 10:01 BST Title: Team news - Lions Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) Two new Lions start in Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn. However we said that on Wednesday about Keenan and he withdrew through illness, so I don't want to jinx him.... Ireland's Tadhg Beirne will captain the side, with James Ryan making his first start on tour. Watch out for the Scotland centre pairing of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, when on form those two are on fire together. Another new Lion is waiting on the bench in Scotland scrum-half Ben White. Replacements: Sheehan, Genge, Furlong, McCarthy, Morgan, White, M Smith, Van der Merwe. Update: Date: 09:58 BST Title: Pollock out Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) Some early news, Lions flanker Henry Pollock has withdrawn from the game because of a tight calf. Don't panic as the Lions have said it is 'precautionary'. Tadhg Beirne moves to six, Scott Cummings now starts in the second row and Duhan van der Merwe comes onto the bench. A shame as Pollock has been box office. Update: Date: 09:56 BST Title: Lions, Lions, Lions Content: NSW Waratahs v Lions (11:00 BST) The 2025 British and Irish Lions tour is heating up nicely as the Lions play their third game on Australian soil. Andy Farrell's side are in Sydney to face New South Wales Waratahs. Two convincing wins over Western Force and Queensland Reds saw plenty of players push for Test spots. More of the same in Sydney?
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Why would you not pick Owen Farrell?'
Owen Farrell's call-up to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia could be a "masterstroke", says former England scrum-half and Danny a long-time half-back partner of Farrell for England, backed the decision for Lions head coach Andy Farrell to call up his son, despite his injury struggles and lack of international game former England captain has replaced utility back Elliot Daly, who was ruled out of the tour after fracturing his arm in Wednesday's win over Queensland Reds."Why would you not pick Owen Farrell?" Care told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast."Whatever position he is going to play, whatever role he's going to play in that squad, they are only a better squad for having him has seen first hand how Farrell sets standards both on and off the pitch."If Owen turns up and delivers standards and delivers a better performance from the Lions, and overall and you see a more connected team, then you have to go 'what a masterclass and a masterstroke from the coaches'," he 33, has not played international rugby in nearly two years and recently returned to Saracens after a difficult season in Paris with Racing fly-half, who can also play inside centre, has not played in nearly nine weeks after a concussion ended his season he arrives in Australia, Farrell will be the only player in the squad to have gone on four Lions tours, where he will look to add to his six Tests."Whatever team Owen is in he makes them better. I have no doubt in whatever shape he is, he will slot in absolutely fine," added Care."I hope he hits the ground running, and everyone just gets on with it." Care recalls how a suspended Owen Farrell played a crucial role in preparing England for their pivotal opening game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Argentina."I go back to the World Cup where he goes into the tournament with a ban, but the way he drove the standards of the whole group," he said."The way he drove the midweek teams, preparing the first team to play against Argentina and the masterclass that George Ford delivered there."Owen prepped that team so well for that."Whatever Owen's role is going to be on that tour he is only going to add and be a positive influence and drive the standards even more." Who else could they have called up? Daly's experience as a utility back is a unique one. The 32-year-old has played centre, wing and full-back across three Lions tours and was playing his way into a Test Tom Jordan, who is touring close by in his native New Zealand, can play 10, 12 and 15 and was a natural fit to cover multiple Jamie Osborne, capped by Farrell last summer in South Africa, will complete the set of playing international rugby at full-back, wing and centre against Georgia on Farrell made clear he had "loads of full-backs" with Hugo Keenan and Blair Keenan, the likely contenders for the Test 15 spot, set to play their first game on tour against NWS Waratahs on Marcus Smith also able to cover 15, this ruled out in-form Wales full-back Blair wing Darcy Graham wing was unlucky to miss out on the initial squad and offers less versatility but could have added another option in the back Mack Hansen and England's Tommy Freeman have both played for their club at full-back, which Andy Farrell previously referenced was an important factor in their initial selection."I will be honest; I look around and think who else could he call-up?" Care said."Out of everyone that is going that can cover a couple of positions. He would be top of my list."Why wouldn't you take someone who has been there three times, worn the shirt and knows what it takes?"There will be sceptical people because he hasn't played proper Test match rugby for a long time."I do not think that matters with Owen, I really don't." 'A joke selection' - the backlash Former Lions fly-half Dan Biggar toured with Owen Farrell in 2017 and 2021 and wrote in his Daily Mail column, external that the management are being "quite naive" if they think the selection will "blow over quietly".He also wonders if Farrell will affect the dynamic of the fly-halves as he is "a huge personality" and will have a "big influence" on the squad."We've been praising Russell all year. He looks like the main man. It feels like this is his moment and you don't know what kind of impact Farrell coming in will have on that dynamic," Biggar Barnes, a Lions tourist in 1993, wrote in the Times, external that the problem with Farrell's call-up was not "nepotism" but "on form, the selection is a joke".And like Biggar, the former England fly-half questioned whether Russell would be hindered by Farrell's presence."Farrell's pick is a disturbing decision. It could even become a disturbance. Let's hope not," he O'Driscoll, a four-time Lions tourist, believes Farrell's leadership skills mean he will "accepted very, very well" and he added on Off The Ball, external that he could see him starting one of the Tests at inside centre."He could change their game or bring an extra dimension," he added. "His range of passing is phenomenal."
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Farrell picks Farrell - a good call?
The latest Rugby Union Weekly is now out as we react to the big news from Australia with Andy Farrell calling up his son Owen to replace Elliot long-time half-back partner Danny Care explains what the former England captain will bring – despite his lack of form – while BBC reporter Tom English joins us from Sydney to give us his take on the can listen to the debate here., external
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
"I could've been a Lion - but getting injured whilst playing on a sled cost me"
Danny Care never made a British and Irish Lions tour despite more than a decade with England - and admits an injury whilst sledding in the snow is the "one I look back on" after missing out on selection in 2009 Danny Care never made a British and Irish Lions tour despite more than a decade with England - and admits an injury whilst sledding in the snow is the "one I look back on" after missing out on selection in 2009. The Harlequins scrum-half won more than 100 caps for his country across a career that spanned more than 20 years. He made his debut for England in 2008 against New Zealand following some stellar club form. His upward trajectory continued and he was picked to play in the Six Nations opener a year later. That year's Six Nations had added spice given the Lions were heading to take on South Africa that summer. Care was in pole position to put himself in the shop window but picked up an injury whilst enjoying himself in the snow after training. The Harlequins legend was sledding, but what was supposed to be a fun activity later saw him pick up an injury, resulting in him pulling out of the squad. England had to seek a new face at scrum-half and turned to Harry Ellis, who had been impressing in the younger grades. His performances in that Six Nations earned him a Lions spot with Care wondering what might've been. The 38-year-old, speaking at a SailGP event ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth, told Mirror Sport: "I'd say 2009 I had an opportunity but I got injured just before the Six Nations opener sledding down a hill after training and I got injured, did my ankle. So they called Harry Ellis up from the Saxons, Harry then played really well for England and went on that Lions tour. That's the one I look back on and go I definitely shouldn't have been sledging, but you never know, it is all hypothetical. But normally the starting nine for England has a chance and Harry took his chance. The rest is history." Even in the tours that followed Care was often talked about as an option. In 2013 he was in the England fold but Ben Youngs got the nod. Four years later and he was part of the Eddie Jones' side that had dominated for two years, but was again overlooked. Then in 2021, when the Lions were again playing in South Africa, there was mounting outside noise to see Care get the nod. By this point his international career was on pause, but he excelled for Harlequins. They came from nowhere to win the Premiership and Care concedes you do start to believe the noise. He confessed: "When people campaign for players, I remember in 2021 when people were starting to say I was going to go on Tour. I wasn't playing for England, but I was playing for Harlequins. Maybe you start wanting to believe the hype but then you whittle it down and go I haven't played for England for three years." Care is regarded as one of the modern greats who never became a Lion. Few players amass over 100 caps without making a tour and the scrum-half openly admits that missing out on the experience means it simply doesn't resonate like it does with those who did it. "When you haven't done it, you don't know what it's like. It isn't a regret because I don't pick the team," he said. "You'd love to have done it because you hear the stories and see it and it looks amazing, but because I've never felt it I'm happy for all my mates, I watch the games but yeah I wouldn't say I'm an avid Lions fans. I grew up a football fan so I can't tell you I watched all the Living with the Lions DVDs."
